Mystic, CT - Mystic Seaport will celebrate the 71st anniversary of the arrival of the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan by offering free admission to all visitors on Saturday, November 10. The Museum exhibits will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the grounds will remain open to the public afterward in preparation for a fireworks show at 7 p.m.

The day will feature a variety of special Morgan-related presentations and demonstrations, including talks by the shipwrights working on the restoration, live music from the Museum’s chanteymen, and numerous activities for kids and families.

Fireworks begin promptly at 7 p.m. The pyrotechnics will be launched from a barge moored in the river and visitors are invited to view the display from Mystic Seaport grounds. The Galley Restaurant and Latitude 41° Restaurant & Tavern will be open for dinner. Nighttime visitors are encouraged to bring a flashlight.

The day’s free admission and fireworks are made possible by the generous sponsorship of Mohegan Sun.

The anniversary is an opportunity to recognize the importance the Charles W. Morgan has had in the development of the Museum and the community since she was towed up the river on Nov. 8, 1941. The Morgan is the last wooden whaleship from the Age of Sail and is the oldest American commercial vessel still afloat. After an 80-year whaling career, the Morgan was at risk of being broken up when she was offered to the infant Marine Historical Association (now Mystic Seaport). The acquisition of the ship raised the stature of the Museum significantly and helped put Mystic on the map of tourist destinations. The Museum estimates more than 20 million people have come to Mystic and walked her decks since 1941.

Downtown Events

The Museum’s celebration will be complimented by several events organized by Sail the Morgan 2014, a local committee dedicated to raising $1.5 million to support the Morgan’s 38th Voyage in 2014.

An arts presentation at the Mystic Arts Center will take place on Thursday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m. “Insight and Inspiration from the Dalvero Academy Artists” will be a discussion of the current exhibit by the Academy at Mystic Seaport, "Restoring a Past, Charting a Future: An Artistic Discovery of America's Whaling Legacy by Dalvero Academy." Artists Susan Buroker, Audrey Hawkins, Margaret Hurst, Veronica Lawlor, and Dominic Santise will give a presentation about the Academy's artistic interpretation of the restoration of the Charles W. Morgan. The event is free and open to the public.

On November 10 there will be live music and activities at the Mystic River Park in downtown Mystic beginning at 10 a.m. Local music groups, headlined by The Cartells at noon, will perform over the course of the day.

The community events are organized in association with Mystic Restaurant Week, which ends November 10. Latitude 41° Restaurant & Tavern is joining other local establishments to offer special menus and one-price dining all week. Participating restaurants and menus can be found by visiting www.mysticrestaurantweek.com

For more information about Sail the Morgan 2014 and how to help support the restoration and voyage, please visit www.sailthemorgan.org or email advancement@mysticseaport.org.